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Showing posts with label Subaru Forester. Show all posts

Not for U.S.: Subaru Launches 259HP Forester S-Edition in Australia

First unveiled in the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney last October, the Subaru Forester S-Edition has now gone on sale in Australia, alongside the revised lineup of the Japanese compact SUV. Boasting a turbocharged 2.5-liter boxer engine delivering 259HP (193kW) and 347 Nm (256 lb-ft) of torque, the new range-topping model is the most powerful Forester ever to be sold down-under.

It might not be for "U.S.", or any other market outside of Japan, for that matter, but the new JDM Subaru Forester tS deserves our attention. Based on the Forester S-Edition, the tS has been upgraded with a raft of STi parts including a modified suspension that sits 15 mm lower than usual, 17-inch alloys, a front spoiler and the customary tS logos.

Last month we told you about the revised for the 2011 model year, Subaru Forester SUV, which benefits from an all new naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter boxer engine with a chain driven double overhead cam and an output of 170HP and 174 lb-ft. of torque.

As you may remember from our previous post, we didn't have any photos of the 2011MY, but now, the Japanese automaker has released a gallery giving us the chance to see the new grille and alloy wheel designs -but oddly enough, not the revised instrument panel- of the updated Forester models. Follow the jump to check out all the pictures.

At the 2010 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney, Subaru unveiled the Forester S-Edition, a concept study that points to a new Forester variant for 2011. Built on the existing turbocharged Forester XT, the S-Edition produces an additional 32 hp and 20 lb ft (24 kw and 27 Nm) over the Australian market XT's 227 hp and 236 lb ft (169 kw and 320 Nm) lifting the 2.5-liter boxer engine's output to 259-horsepower.

While pics of the 2011 Forester have yet to make it out the gates (the car pictured above is a 2010MY) , here is a run-through of the new lineup for the U.S. market. Other than some minor styling updates such as the new grille design and a revised instrument panel with softer materials, the big news is Subaru's brand-spanking new boxer engine we first told you about earlier today.

Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (FHI), Subaru's parent company, has released details on its third-generation four-cylinder boxer engine that will be available in 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter displacements. This is the first overall renewal since the second generation was introduced in 1989. The horizontally opposed flat 4 has been a mainstay of Subaru's Impreza, Forrester and Legacy models for some time.

Besides adding its upcoming unnamed coupe to the lineup, Subaru will be working to get a little pep back in its step by bringing out some new designs over the next few years. What can we expect from the all-wheel drive anti-SUV brand? Autoweek had an interesting article charting the upcoming changes in Subaru's lineup.

Starting with the chunky-monkey Legacy and Outback models that are relatively new, the only update to be expected is a mild refresh/facelift coming in the next three or four years.

Hopefully Subaru will decide on a corporate face that doesn't look like 'meh' and throw it on those two, because right now they're as beige as a Camry. I mean, if Volvo and Audi could make their crossover cars (the Cross Country and Allroad) look cool, why can't Subaru?

This is what happens when you have a Toyota Prius with rear end damage, a Subaru Baja (pickup truck version of the Outback) with front end damage, a lot of free time, and a very weird sense of aesthetics - or a sick sense of humor. This freak-o-mobile is the creation of a salvage Prius cars and parts company called "Auto Be Yours" located in Scottsburg, Indiana. And yes, the name given to the Baja-tized Prius is Pruck. If by any sheer ridiculous chance you're interested, the Pruck is up for sale for somewhere around "mid $20k". Skip the jump for more photos.

Even though Kia and Hyundai are present in most countries around the world, you'll be surprised of the number of automakers that are absent from the South Korean market for one reason (import taxes) or another (legislation).

Subaru is one of them, but that's going to change soon as the Japanese automaker announced today that it is joining Toyota in South Korea's recovering market for imported cars. The company said that that sales of Subaru-brand vehicles will start from April in the country working through its local distributor, Subaru Korea Co., Ltd.

The automaker's range will initially comprise of the Legacy, Outback and Forester. Unfortunately for Subaru fans in South Korea, the Impreza series, and by that, we actually mean the WRX and STI, won't be offered.

Subaru's newly formed Korean division said that it has set an initial sales target of a mere 600 units in the first year but aims to increase that number to 3,000 units by 2015.

The company stated that it is the process of developing its own dealer network and is planning to open Subaru outlets first in Seoul and Pusan and then to other metropolitan areas in South Korea.

SEMA: Subaru’s Mountain Rescue Forester Concept

Along with the STI-prepped Forester XTI Concept that sports a modified 2.5-liter turbocharged boxer engine from the ’09 Impreza WRX STI, Subaru will also display a second concept version of its crossover model at SEMA called the “Mountain Rescue Forester”. Built in cooperation with Detroit-based Specialized Vehicles for the National Ski Patrol (NSP), the concept is based on the '09 Forester 2.5XT. The all-wheel-drive crossover has been modified to cope with rescues in difficult terrain and weather conditions delivering more than 14 in. of ground clearance (stock Forester: 8.9in.) through an Air Lift custom adjustable ride height air suspension system.

Added off-road and snow traction is provided by Yokohama Geolandar MTS 30 x 9.5-in. tires on special 15-in. Subaru custom-reversed, near-zero offset steel wheels. For protection, the Forester has been equipped with custom front and rear skid plates by DeeZee and custom trail armor by Bushwacker, including fender flares, lower door cladding, a rear gate guard and tail light guards.

Other modifications include an emergency light package an Ultimate Performance 9.5i Thermometric 9,500-lb. winch by WARN, remote rear door openers and external quick-access utility compartments.

SEMA: Subaru Forester XTI Concept with 315HP STI Turbo Engine

Just as we we're starting to worry about the lack of any official Subaru proposals for the SEMA show the Japanese automaker revealed the Forester XTI Concept. Designed and built by the folks at Subaru of America, the concept features the engine and entire drivetrain from the Impreza WRX STI. Thanks to the addition of a custom stainless steel cat-back exhaust system, the 2.5-liter intercooled turbo engine develops an output of 315HP (+10HP) and 300 lb.-ft. of torque (from 290 lb.-ft. stock). With this engine, Subaru claims that the Forester XTI Concept can hit the 0 to 60mph (96km/h) mark in under 5,0 seconds - not bad at all for a crossover. -Continued

As with the Impreza WRX STI, power is channeled through a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission and the Driver Controlled Center Differential (DCCD) version of Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive which offers three selectable automatic performance modes in addition to six manual center differential-locking settings.

Subaru technicians borrowed the WRX STI's Brembo brakes with 4-piston front calipers and 2-piston rear calipers and while they were at it, they also added an adjustable coil-over suspension by STI.

The Forester XTI Concept's styling has been enhanced with a two-shade custom paint scheme, a JDM body kit that includes side skirts, a rear skirt and a gate spoiler and of course, a set of 18-inch STI alloy wheels wrapped in Yokohama Advan Neova 255/40R18 performance tires. We dont; have any photos of the interior but Subaru said that the Forester XTI features leather and Alcantara sport seats, a special instrument cluster, front dash and center console and leather-wrapped steering wheel.

2009 Subaru Forester: US Spec Version Image Gallery

As anticipated, the US spec version (details here) of the 2009 Subaru Forester doesn’t bear any differences from the JDM version (see 70 high-res pictures here) other than the removal of the hood mounted mirrors. Same goes for the interior which is exactly the same. You can check out all the images right after the jump. Set to make its global debut at the Detroit Show in January, the third generation Forester will be available initially in the US with naturally aspirated and turbocharged / intercooled 2.5-liter Boxer engines. -Continued

2009 Subaru Forester Prototypes: See What The Designers Disapproved

Along with BMW Group’s design team, Subaru’s designers must be among the most criticized people in their field of work. And even though critics weren’t as near as harsh on the 2009 Forester (click HERE for details and images) as they were on the 2008 Impreza, we heard and read a few negative opinions. But like it or not, the third-generation Forester is here to stay.

However, we thought it would be interesting to show you a set of images featuring various design propositions for the 2009 Forester, including several clay prototypes. Follow the jump to check out all the images and sketches and don’t forget to tell us what you think about them by leaving a comment below. -Continued